JoeRuedinger

Director of Product Engineering and Design

Industrial designer and manager with extensive education and broad experience in new product design and development. Skilled in designing and managing projects to identify and meet the needs of all stakeholders including cost and manufacturing requirements. Partners effectively with multi-disciplinary teams and external consultants to create quality products. Passionately empathetic to the end user experience, assuming the voice of the end user in the development process.

Work Samples

Momentum open plan desking system (BBF / Bush Furniture)

Realize Desking System (BBF / Bush Furniture)

Light Scale Screens

Work History

Skills
Design Leadership and Management / Project Management / Program Management / Management of Internal and External Resources / Partner with Multidisciplinary Team Members including Marketing and Engineering / Process Improvement / Design Solutions for Business Needs / Ergonomics to Improve End User Experience, Productivity, and Safety / 3-D Computer Modeling / Furniture Design / Industrial Design
Experience
Director of Design and Product Engineering 3.2016 - present
Director of Product Design 5.2007- 3.2016
Principal Designer 6.2006-5.2007
Bush Industries / BBF Jamestown, NY 2006-present
Manufacturer of Office Furniture, Home Office Furniture, and Entertainment Furniture
• Lead Design, Product Engineering, Product Testing and Packaging Groups
• Design products and work to change culture to move company from RTA to casegoods office furniture.
• Develop products and product lines to cost and time targets
• Create vision for product lines then maintain design intent through development and into production.
• Develop product lines to work as a system to maximize layout potential while keeping the number of components to a minimum- utilizing the right level of modularity while still being easy to specify.
• Design product lines to respond to current work trends, customer unmet needs as well as end user needs.
• Work closely with marketing to develop the right products for the customer and engineering to develop the product to maximize material and manufacturing efficiency.
• Products receive very good customer reviews on various websites.
Senior Designer
Harbor Industries, Grand Haven, Michigan 2004-2006
Developer and manufacturer permanent point-of-purchase displays.
• Design and develop displays to customer requirements, including budget, time, and desired consumer response.
Independent Consultant, Grand Haven, Michigan 2003-2004
Industrial Design and Design Management Services
Details, a Steelcase Subsidiary, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1998-2002
Products to improve the ergonomics of computer use in the workplace.
Senior Industrial Designer
• Lead the design effort for multidisciplinary product development teams. Worked with marketing to develop product strategy and criteria and with engineering to realize concepts through to production.
• Developed products that exceed sales estimates, were below targeted production costs, and were awarded patents.
• Directed the efforts of outside design consultants and product application research consultants.
• Established and implemented strategy, process and procedures for the analysis and prioritization of new product opportunities as a part of a team.
• Redesigned products to reduce cost while enhancing features and benefits.
Market Technologies, Inc., Grand Haven, Michigan 1994-1997
Consulting firm providing product development, marketing, and management services.
Vice President, Creative Services
• Managed and directed the design and engineering of products and displays.
• Developed and implemented design and engineering programs for cost reduction including one which resulted in a 20% saving in manufacturing.
• As part of a team, established and implemented a product quality management program.
Kendall College Of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1995-1997
Adjunct Professor
• Instructed courses in design, portfolio development, and computer-based visualization.
Thomas F. Parker and Associates, Inc., Grand Haven, Michigan 1992-1993
Developer of permanent point-of-purchase displays.
General Manager - Design, Research and Development Group
• Managed a seven member staff in the areas of industrial design, research, and prototyping. Also directed efforts of engineering and graphic design consultants.
• Established, standardized, and implemented project management methods and procedures including the development of aids and planning materials.
• Lead team to improve total quality and efficiency. Recognized by largest client for improvement in quality of design and prototypes.
• Generated a strategic action plan for the growth and diversification of group.
Independent Consultant, Columbus, Ohio 1990-1992
Industrial design services while completing graduate studies.
• Retained by Thomas F. Parker and Associates to design permanent point-of-purchase displays.
• Participated in client diversification brainstorm sessions and customer consultation.
Harbor Industries, Inc., Grand Haven, Michigan 1988-1990
Developer and manufacturer permanent point-of-purchase displays.
Industrial Designer
• Developed displays for clients and provided design direction to account management. Concepts consistently chosen over competing display firms' concepts.
• Recognized with silver and bronze awards for display design from the Point-of-Purchase Advertising Institute (POPAI).
KMH, Inc., (now Dam Site Design), Ceresco, Michigan 1986-1988
Design consulting firm.
Industrial Designer
• Provided client and vendor consultation, budget and time management, conceptualization, concept refinement, 3-D mock-ups, design control drawings, product graphics and safety labels.
Patents at Details: Named on five patents